North Carolina Rep. Wants To Ban People On Welfare From Playing The Lottery

If you’re living on welfare in North Carolina, you may soon be out of luck when it comes to the lottery. Raleigh-Durham’s ABC affiliate WTVD-TV is reporting that lawmakers in that state are proposing legislation that would bar people on welfare or in bankruptcy from purchasing lottery tickets.

As reporter Anna Laurel explains, “the lawmaker drafting this legislation told us today that the vendor selling the lottery ticket would be penalized if they know the person is on welfare or in bankruptcy, which has some questioning if this law really solves any problems.”

The Republican congressman behind the bill, Rep. Paul Stam laid out his reasoning by saying, “We’re giving them welfare to help them live, and yet by selling them a ticket, we’re taking away their money that is there to provide them the barest of necessities.”

But as the Raleigh news team discovered, local lottery vendors have serious concerns. One clerk was quoted as saying, “I don’t feel comfortable to ask my customers what their financial status is… it’s not my business.”

Meanwhile, North Carolina’s NAACP president Rev. William Barber said that while his organization doesn’t “agree with the lottery to start with” he would prefer to have Rep. Stam focus on larger issues “Rather than Mr. Stam having a side argument, ask him to stop blocking labor rights for poor people and working people. Ask him to have a real conversation about real wage.”

That is true... The jackpots will be much smaller thats for damn sure....

I don't like anything that preys on the poor... The Lottery, Check Cashing Stores, places that rent tvs and stuff , payday loans etc. These businesses are parasites that feed off of poor people in my mind...

That is true... The jackpots will be much smaller thats for damn sure....

I don't like anything that preys on the poor... The Lottery, Check Cashing Stores, places that rent tvs and stuff , payday loans etc. These businesses are parasites that feed off of poor people in my mind...

a) Which do you think has a more deleterious impact on the poor, the lottery or usury?

Seriously, I don't care what people do with a little bit of money and I think we have more shit to worry about in this country...

I seriously don't want welfare gone because no matter how sorry parents are, I would never want the guilt of a single kid going hungry... If we have to feed a bunch of leeches to get to the people who need it then so be it...

I am blessed and I have it good and I sometimes lose focus and realize others didn't have the opportunity I did or they weren't educated enough in common sense (thats not a slam) to realize what makes people poor... The people who abuse put the bad taste in my mouth and make me like I am but the last thing I ever want to see is a hungry person..

I am the one people call a dumbass for giving the bum at the intersection 5 bucks hoping he gets something to eat but knowing in my heart I just paid for his booze....

Damn right.... it's the only way to live in my mind..... I don't have a helluva lot of material things but everything I have is paid for in full and that's the way I want to live...

Any man that wants to live another way, that's his business.

Yup and it is even harder to live this way being someone in their mid 20's with friends who don't understand the value of a dollar. My girlfriend and I are very tight with money even though I make a decent living. Our friends, however, sometimes have influence on how my girlfriend thinks because my generation just doesn't get it. We are in are mid 20's, neither has a car payment or credit card debt. I have an interest free student loan to my parents and I definitely can afford to pay that while still putting money into a 401k/Roth IRA and putting good amounts of money into savings. I have friends who make the same as us but live paycheck to paycheck while we have saved enough to have a 15k emergency fund. Sometimes their purchases of boats, cars, trips and expensive dinners have her thinking we should be doing the same. I can usually talk about why we live like we do and she does get it, but it doesn't make it easy.

I feel much more secure having a good understanding about the need to plan for the future, even in your 20's, than those feeling like they can afford tons of material things.

I would never argue with my friend about how they spend their money but it is amazing how little understanding my generation has of money which will further increase the entitlement issue in this country.

Yup and it is even harder to live this way being someone in their mid 20's with friends who don't understand the value of a dollar. My girlfriend and I are very tight with money even though I make a decent living. Our friends, however, sometimes have influence on how my girlfriend thinks because my generation just doesn't get it. We are in are mid 20's, neither has a car payment or credit card debt. I have an interest free student loan to my parents and I definitely can afford to pay that while still putting money into a 401k/Roth IRA and putting good amounts of money into savings. I have friends who make the same as us but live paycheck to paycheck while we have saved enough to have a 15k emergency fund.

I feel much more secure having a good understanding about the need to plan for the future, even in your 20's, than those feeling like they can afford tons of material things.

I would never argue with my friend about how they spend their money but it is amazing how little understanding my generation has of money which will further increase the entitlement issue in this country.

Money is a huge reason for divorce. Money management is tied to responsiblity and being mentally mature.

I hope they figure it out, because EVERY friend of mine that is a credit warrior ended their marriage in divorce. Too much stress and not enough communication.

Yup and it is even harder to live this way being someone in their mid 20's with friends who don't understand the value of a dollar. My girlfriend and I are very tight with money even though I make a decent living. Our friends, however, sometimes have influence on how my girlfriend thinks because my generation just doesn't get it. We are in are mid 20's, neither has a car payment or credit card debt. I have an interest free student loan to my parents and I definitely can afford to pay that while still putting money into a 401k/Roth IRA and putting good amounts of money into savings. I have friends who make the same as us but live paycheck to paycheck while we have saved enough to have a 15k emergency fund. Sometimes their purchases of boats, cars, trips and expensive dinners have her thinking we should be doing the same. I can usually talk about why we live like we do and she does get it, but it doesn't make it easy.

I feel much more secure having a good understanding about the need to plan for the future, even in your 20's, than those feeling like they can afford tons of material things.

I would never argue with my friend about how they spend their money but it is amazing how little understanding my generation has of money which will further increase the entitlement issue in this country.

Just don't try to force your thoughts on the better half... Explain and reason with her and don't forget to live life and splurge sometimes... Happy Wife = Happy Life.

Friends will take offense if you try to tell them something they know in their heart is right but they don't practice, best to leave finances out of friendships, it's a no win.

Once Mama sees that account grow, she will be on board 100%, it's good you are so young and thinking the way you do

Nope they will simply sell them the ticket and they will not get paid when they try to collect~

It penalizes store owners if they sell to someone who is on welfare, even though there is no reasonable way for a store owner to do this.

If conservatives are going to bitch about class warfare, it's equally ridiculous to tell someone in welfare how to spend their money. Nor does it make any sense that the government would collect buttloads of money from consumers who aren't even allowed to cash in.

This regulation is stupid on a whole bunch of levels.

And before anyone chimes in with the lousy argument that because they are getting government handouts they should be held under scrutiny... Think long and hard about handouts big businesses get that often get invested into increased executive compensation or perks like private transportation.

It penalizes store owners if they sell to someone who is on welfare, even though there is no reasonable way for a store owner to do this.

If conservatives are going to bitch about class warfare, it's equally ridiculous to tell someone in welfare how to spend their money. Nor does it make any sense that the government would collect buttloads of money from consumers who aren't even allowed to cash in.

This regulation is stupid on a whole bunch of levels.

And before anyone chimes in with the lousy argument that because they are getting government handouts they should be held under scrutiny... Think long and hard about handouts big businesses get that often get invested into increased executive compensation or perks like private transportation.

Don't even point the finger at Conservatives about class warfare.... This administration invented it.